When I was standing in the shower this morning, for some reason Williamstown popped into my head. I go for a little afternoon explore there. As a get out of Williamstown station I see on these paths mapped out in front of me. I follow my intuition and it takes me to the beach. I watch people play with their dogs and collect shells. I find a bench in a beautiful spot and write an email to my parents. I feel a bit like writing them a post card to Germany. I continue walking and have an ice cream at Williamstown Beach. On my way back to Fitzroy I stop by Little Saigon in Footscray to get some Vegies for dinner.

Today was a bit of a rest day. So much walking takes it out of you. I went to Fitzroy North and was a Burner’s picnic at Edinburgh gardens. I caught up with a few friends there. Then I walked over to Nicholson St since my friend Cara had a Poolparty. Nobody went swimming though. It was only 16°C. So we had cheese instead 🙂 At 7 I made my way back down to Fitzroy because I was taking photos of my friends the Soothplayers performing improvised Shakespeare.

I’m running late. I was meant to pick up my friend Tim at his work in the city at quarter to 6 but I’m still in Fitzroy. So I’m rushing down taking pictures of interesting things along the way. I finally make it to Bourke St and Tim is already waiting. We decide to get some food on the other side of the Yarra River. On our way we find an item that was very popular in the 90s, a lava lamp. We have a drink at Riverland and make our way across the river towards the Botanical Gardens. We reach Mpavillion, a pop-up bar in the gardens and watch the sun go down over Melbourne. Tim gets a phone call and I have some time to take some pictures of Melbourne’s beautiful night skyline. Our Friend Angela has a party in the city. There are a lot of people at the party I know out of different circles. It’s exciting that they are all there. I meet Mastaneh and John and we have some very engaging and inspiring conversations. It’s getting late and I can feel the 100km walking from last week, so Tim and I walk back to Fitzroy.

Week 1 of my Curiosity Journey has finished. It was great so far, so many new impressions of Melbourne. I explored 10 suburbs.

Here are some statistics of the first week:

• Distance walked: 102.9 km
• Distance cycled: 27.2 km
• Distance swam: 11.2 km
• Distance traveled on public transport: 226.6 km
• Total distance traveled: 371.5 km
• People I had conversations with: 57
• People who smiled at me: 56

Also here are the routes I traveled:

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Track name: | Start: | Distance: km | Duration: | Ø Pace: /km | Elevation: +m -m (net: m) | download GPX file

Curiosity Journey Week 1: -37.912352, 145.089485

The Day 7 Curiosity Walk begins in the city. I’m having coffee at Brother Baba Budan. My friend Roisin works there. I hadn’t seen her in while. It’s so great to catch up. I’m a bit planless as I step into Melbourne Central Station. I decide to go on the train to Glen Waverley and ride til the last station. As I leave the station, I find myself next to a giant shopping centre. I walk around it and get to a little park. In the park there is a guy sitting on a bench. His name is Malcom and he is a school chess teacher. We have a great chat and work out that we have a common friend I used to do improv with. Malcom points me the way to some houses with nice gardens where I could take pictures. So I start walking through this housing estate with these large houses with beautiful flowers in their front yards. The streets have names like Diamond Avenue or Golden Grove. Eventually I reach a service station and have an ice cream. It’s getting warm. I ask Emma the lady behind the counter where there are interesting places to take pictures and she points me to Jelis Park. On my way there a side street catches my attention and I start following it. It leads me to this hidden nature reserve with lots of overgrowth and tiny path going through it. It’s very peaceful. On the other side of it I find the path to Jelis Park. I see a family of Pukekos crossing the street. Jelis Park has a lake in in middle with a island full of Ibises and other birds. I keep watching them as the sun goes down. Then I catch the bus back to the station. I ask a woman next to me, if there are any places to get food around here. She to come with her and she will show me. We start chatting and I tell that I’m originally from Germany. “Germany. Me too.”, I hear all the sudden from behind me. It’s Karolina who came to Australia 3 years ago. We go and have dinner a Chinese dumpling place next to the station. It’s awesome to have a chat in German again. At 8 I make it to the train home.